stewart



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. STEWART.

BUTTON MAKING DEVICE.

No. 384,547. Patented June 12, 1888.

lli llll 1" v z lrln m l I E Iiiilliiill I,

Ill j ERS, Phmmhn mr. Waslfinghm, at;

(No Model.) 2-She.efis-Sheet 2.,

J. STEWART.

BUTTON MAKING DEVICE.

No. 884,547. Patented June 12, 1888.

UNITED STATES Prion.

PATENT JOHN STEWART, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,547, dated June 12,1888.

Application filed July 14,1887. Serial No. 244,351. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN STEWART, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Newark, in the county of Essex and State 5 ofNew Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inButton-Making Apparatus, of which the following is a specificationsufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains to make and use the same.

My improvements relate to button-forming machines generally, but, forconvenience of illustration, are shown as applied to the class ofapparatus in which the cloth cover and shell I are first pressedtogether within the lower die or sleeve surroundingthe stationary postor anvil,and then the filling and backingpreviously inserted in theclosing-die are united to the shell and cloth cover by the action of theplunger opposed to the stationary anvil.

Heretofore the lower die or sleeve has been supported in its highestposition by a spiral spring surrounding its exterior, and the upper diehas in like manner been supported loosely in position by a spiral springthe lower end of which clasped the die while the upper end clasped theshank of the plunger. Two coiled springs of nearly equal strength werethus opposed to each other in use, and their combined resistance had tobe overcome in theoperation of finishing the button. Such springs havenecessarily been of very weak tension when extended; consequently thelower die especially has had to be removed and cleaned frequently;otherwise the failure of the spring to properly return the die toposition has been the cause of frequent imperfections in work. They havealso to be removed and others more suitable substituted when it isdesired to employ a different thickness of cloth as a covering or tosuit variations in the other parts of which the button is made. Iobviate these objections by dispensing with the comparatively largespring surrounding the lower die and supporting the latter by means of atension-lever pivotally suspended to the standard and tending constantlyto sustain the die in its highest position, the shorter end of the leveracting as a stop or gage to such upward movement.

} Various means for positively sustaining the lower sleeve or die in itshighest position during the insertion of the covering-cloth and shellhave been devised; but, as I design my apparatus more especially for theuse of tailors, dress-makers, and others unskilled in the use ofmechanical appliances, I not only purposely avoid any positive or rigidlocking of the die during said operation, but also provide for theyielding of the die should undue pressure be applied. Considerabledamage has heretofore been done to apparatus ofthis class where thelower dies have been positively sustained in their higher positions, asreferred to, by the unnecessary or violent use of the plungers.

Another feature of my invention in this connection is the provision ofmeans for varying and regulating the tension of the die-supportinglever, so that variations in the thickness of the covering-cloth or ofother parts of the button may be readily compensated for without theremoval or interchange of any portion of the apparatus.

The first operation of inserting the cloth cover and shell in the lowerdie in my improved apparatus being performed, as indicated, against theresistance afforded by the tension-lever only, I arrange the spring uponthe upper die in such manner that it will permit of sufficient motion ofthe plunger to effect so the said first operation without thecompression of the said upper spring itself; but upon the insertion ofthe closing-die the lower die-is forced down against the resistance ofthe tension-lever until it rests against the base or other stationarysupporting-shoulder in the ordinary manner, when the full force of thespring is utilized in effecting the closing ofthe button. This lostmotion or play between the upper die-spring and the plunger may be 2, 3,and a are vertical sections of the upper die and lower end of plunger,the lower die or sleeve and anvil, and the closing-die, respectively,with the several parts essential to the formation of a button in theirpreliminary positions. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the upper portionof the standard, the lower portion of the plunger-lever, and the connecting-link, &c., between them. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the device withthe plunger lowered and in the act of pressing the cloth cover and shellinto the lower die, which latter, with the tension-lever, is brokenaway, to more clearly show the relative positions of the parts. Fig. 7is a sectional elevation of the lower portion of the apparatus, the diesbeing broken away to show the relative positions of the parts during thecompletion of the button. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on plane ofline as m, Fig. 6, the upper die and plunger being omitted.

In general construction and operation the apparatus is substantially thesame as heretofore known. A suitable base, A, and standard or frame, A,is provided, the latter being formed with the vertical collar a, throughwhich the plunger B passes. The plunger-lever 0 is fulcrumed in theupper end ofa linkpiece, D, the lower extremity of which ispivoted tothe rear of the standard A. The link D is formed with a spring-catch, d,the upper end of which engages with a shoulder, 0, upon theplunger-lever 0 when the latter is raised, as shown in Fig. 1, thussustaining the parts of the apparatus in position for the insertion orremoval of the several parts of the button, the closing-die, &c., duringuse. The spring d'acts automatically in engaging and holding theplunger-lever when raised, and it has sufficient elasticity to avoidobjectionable resistance to the lowering of the lever.

The ordinary post or anvil, E, is supported and centralized upon thebase A, being formed with a teuon, e, which enters a mortise formed inthe base for its reception. Resting over the anvil-post E is the usuallower die or sleeve, F, which is sustained in its highest position awayfrom the base A by the tension-lever G. This lever G is preferably,though not necessarily, bifurcated, forming the arms g, which projectunderneath the flange f of the lower sleeve or die, F. The lever G ispivotally suspended from the standard A, and its short arm is formed toconstitute a stop or gage to the upward movement of the arms 9 g by itscontact with the standard A. The tension or upward pressure of the leverG may be effected by any suitable form of spring, or by counter-weightsor other equivalent means, although the means shown in the drawings arepreferable as being readily adapted to effect the adjustment of thetension. As shown, a spiral spring, II, is inelosed in a suitable boreor recess in the standard A, which spring presses forward a bolt, 71,which impinges against the longer arm, 9, of the lever G, and tendsconstantly to keep the latter elevated in the position shown in Fig. 1.

In order to regulate the degree of pressure to be exerted by the springII against the lever G, provision is made for compressing it more orless by any convenient and wellknown mechanical device,a convenientmeans of accomplishing this being by the use of an adjusting-screw, I,which abuts against the rear end of the spring H.

The upper sleeve or die, J, is of usual construction, except that itsconnection and rela tion to the plunger are peculiar in that it has acertain degree of motion downward before coming in contact with thespring surrounding the upper die. This is for the purpose of permittingthe plunger alone to be used in pressing the cloth cover S and the shellT into the lower die, as shown in Fig. 6, against the resistance of onlythe comparativelylight tcnsion'spring H, which supports the lever G.

Various mechanical means may be employed for affording the requisitedegree of play or free motion between the plunger and die. For instance,the ordinary form of loose connection between the said parts may beresorted to in which the opposite extremities of the encirling-springbind against the die and the plunger, respectively, with sufficientfriction to retain the die upon the plunger, it only being necessary insuch case to make the spring of reduced length, so that the plunger maydescend a certain distance into the lower die or sleeve, F, before itbegins to compress the said spring.

The spring K is compressed between the shoulder j and the flange of thedie to a degree which will enable it to overcome the resistance of thetensionlever without compression itself until the lower die restsagainst the base, and then its elasticity is utilized in performing thework of closing the button.

As shown in the drawings, the sleeve of the upper die, J, is formed withthe vertical slot j, in which a pin, j projecting from the plunger l3,rests. The upper end of the sleeve .T is also formed with a narrowflange or shoulder, j, which projects very slightly beyond thecylindrical surface of the sleeve.

Instead of being made annular, as shown in the drawings, the shoulder orflangej may be replaced by a suitable number of radial projections whichwill engage and confine the upper end of the spring without interferingwith the downward stroke of the plunger.

It will be seen that, as shown, the shoulder j is of less width than thecross-section of the spring K employed, so that while the latter isconfined between the said shoulder and the lower flange of the die theedge I) of the plunger (which is formed with the annular recess 1) forthe reception of the upper end of the sleeve J) will engage and compressthe said spring when the upper die, J, is held by the lower die, F,against the continued and forcible descent of the plunger by the lowerdie, F.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The parts being in theposition shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a section of covering-cloth is laidU the plunger be forced downward unnecessarily,

upon the lower die, F, and a shell is pressed within the annularshoulder formed for its reception upon the bottom of the upper die, J,as heretofore. The plunger-lever is now lowered until the faces of thetwo dies F and J meet, the continued downward motion of the end of theplunger removing the shell from the upper die and forcing it and thecloth into the upper portion of the lower die, F, above the anvil E.After the contact of the dies the plunger has ample motion in which toeffect this result before the edge 12 of the plunger B comes in contactwith the upper extremity of the spring K; but should undue pressure beused, and

the tension-spring H will yield before the superior strength of theupper spring, K, and thus avoid all lateral or undue strain upon thedies. The plunger having been again elevated, the closing-die L, intowhich the filling and backing for the button have been previouslyinserted, is placed upon the top of the lower die or sleeve, F, in theusual manner, and the plunger again caused to descend by means of itslever 0. Owing to the additional thickness of the closing-die L, whichis of the usual construction, the edge I) of the plungerB soonencounters the upper end of the spring K, and, as the latter is ofgreater strength than the tension-spring II, the tension-lever G andlower die, F, are forced down into the position shown in Fig.7, so thatthe end of the plunger can act against the hammerl of the closing-die tocompress the parts constituting the button against the face of the anvilE in the usual manner.

It will be noticed that the link D consists of two parallel bars, D Dconnected by a web, D, to which the body of the spring (1 is secured,the lower end of the said spring resting between the parallel bars D Dthus insuring the proper position of the spring.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a button-forming apparatus, substantially such as described, thecombination,with the lower die or sleeve and its anvil or post, of aspring tension-lever, substantially such as described, arranged tosustain the said lower die in its normal position by an elasticpressure, substantially in the manner and for 1 the purpose described.

2. In a button-forming apparatus, substantially such as described, thecombination,with the die F, anvil E, and lever G, of means,substantially such as described, for sustaining the saidlever and die intheir normal position by an elastic pressure, for the purpose andsubstantially in the manner described.

3. In a button-forming apparatus, substantially such as designated, thetension-lever G, formed with the stop or bearingarm g, in combinationwith the die F and with means for holding the said lever G and die F intheir normal positions, substantially in the manner and for the purposedescribed.

4. In a button-forming apparatus, substantially such as described, thecombiuation,with the die F and tension-lever G, of means for adjustingthe tension or pressure exerted by the latter, for the purpose andsubstantially in the manner described.

5. In a button-forming apparatus, substantially such as described, thecombination, with the die F and lever G, of the bolt h, spring H, andadj usting-screw I, substantially in the manner and for the purposedescribed.

6. In a button-forming apparatus, substantially such as described, thecombination, with the plunger B, formed with a spring-compress ingshoulder, 12, of the die J, provided with the compressed spring K,confined thereon by means which admit of its further compression by thesaid plunger, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

7. In a button-forming apparatus, substantially such as described, thecombinatiomwith the plunger B and plunger-lever O and the link D, of aspring-latch for holding the said parts in a prescribed position,substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

8. In a button'forming apparatus, substantially such as described, thecombination,with a plunger and with an opposed die, of a die having aspiral spring compressed and confined upon its cylindrical portionbetween two flanges, one of which latter is formed of less width thanthe thickness of the said spring, for the purpose and substantially inthe manner described.

JOHN STEWART. \Vitnesses:

D. W. GARDNER, G120. W. MIATT.

